Baat Cham Do (Butterfly Knives)

BAAT CHAM DO
The form has 8 sections. Many people mistakenly believe this is where the forms name comes from. However the eight actually refers to the number of different angles the blade cuts through whilst performing the techniques in the form. Hence the name “eight cutting blade”.
Obviously the form teaches the Wing Chun student how to use a pair of Wing Chun Dao (knives/swords). Butterfly knives are often confused with Bulls Ears swords. They look very similar however the difference in the handle of the weapon will dramatically reduce the functionality of a Bulls Ear sword compared to a pair Butterfly Knives.
Initially a student may ask “Although it may be fun to learn, and nice from traditional perspective, why should I learn the Bart Cham Dao in this day and age? I am never going to use it in the practical sense.” So what else does learning the Bart Cham Dao help with?
Perhaps most importantly it reinforces the underlying Wing Chun principles seen in the other hand forms, for instance economy of motion, deflection etc. It will also teach the practitioner a new type of stepping that can be used in certain situations. Furthermore as an added bonus learning the Bart Cham Dao will drastically improve wrist strength if trained properly and regularly.
Furthermore because the knives used in the form are not as big as traditional Chinese swords the techniques translate well into improvised weapons you may find in a modern lifestyle.
Before the Bart Cham Dao can be learned it is very important to have a solid grasp of all the other hand forms first. This is because, amongst other things, the stepping in the Bart Cham Dao is not effective without the stepping from the second and third hand forms (Chum Kiu and Biu Gee). The system is designed to grow from the Sil Lim Tao to Bart Cham Dao and it is not wise to try and miss sections or rush through.

Grand Master Samuel Kwok

Much of the information on this website comes from our Sifu,
Grand Master Samuel Kwok. We have used information from his website with acknowledgement.

We would like to take the time to thank him for his dedication to Ip Man Kung Fu. He has spent much time with our Sigungs (Ip Man's two sons),, Ip Chun and Ip Ching as well as other first generation students of Ip Man, to piece together what Ip Man taught. We feel he has presented an authentic representation of Ip Man's WIng Chun. His dedication and perseverence is to commended and honored.

We would also like to thank him for all he has done for us in Wing Chun and in life. The Wing Chun does not make the man. The Man makes the Wing Chun.

For more information on Samuel Kwok, please visit his website at http://www.kwokwingchun.com.

Visit WCWC Affiliate Schools

West Coast Wing Chun™ San Diego
If you live in or around San Diego, please either call Sifu
Sung Choi at 858-848-5320 or visit WCWC San Diego's website at
http://www.wingchunsandiego.com/.

West Coast Wing Chun™ Layton, Utah
If you live in or around Layton, Utah please either call Lo Si Lee Kim at
801 989-6062 or visit WCWC Layton's website at
http://www.wingchunlayton.com/.